New Mexico | DOH reports pertussis cases still on the rise
Santa Fe NM | The New Mexico Department of Health reported today that pertussis cases are still on the rise in New Mexico and throughout many parts of the United States. So far in 2011, there have been 243 cases of pertussis reported to the Department of Health. There were 150 cases in 2010, 94 cases in 2009 and 85 cases in 2008. The Department of Health is urging parents to make sure their child’s immunizations are up-to-date and adults should be sure they are vaccinated to prevent spreading pertussis to others.
Pertussis, also known as “whooping cough,” is a serious, highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection. The initial symptoms of pertussis resemble a cold-like illness and are characterized by runny nose, decreased appetite, malaise and either a low-grade or no fever. After several days, however, people will develop a spasmodic cough that is characterized by coughing fits which may result in vomiting. Sometimes people with pertussis will produce a “whoop” sound while trying to catch their breath following a coughing fit.
“Immunizations are the best tool we have to protect children against this serious disease, so all parents and families should make sure that their children are immunized,” said Department of Health Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Catherine Torres. “Families with infants need to make sure their immunizations are up-to-date because infants less than two months of age are completely unprotected because they cannot receive pertussis vaccine. Children are not considered fully immunized and protected until they have received the dose required at 15 to 18 month of age.”
In New Mexico, children should receive: A primary series of pertussis vaccine at 2, 4, 6 and 15-18 months of age A booster dose prior to school entry at 4 to 6 years of age A second booster dose at entry to middle school
Over time, the protection produced by the vaccine begins to wear off, leaving adolescents and adults once again susceptible to contracting pertussis. The Department of Health recommends that any adolescent or adult who will be in close contact with an infant receive a pertussis vaccine called Tdap. By assuring that everyone around an infant has received Tdap a protective “cocoon” is formed around infants. New or expectant parents interested in “cocooning” should ask their physicians about receiving a Tdap shot, and should suggest that their immediate family members or anyone else who will be in direct contact with the infant, do the same.
Persons with pertussis are most infectious during the early stages of the disease, including the first two weeks of cough, and need to be treated with antibiotics and excluded from work, school and other group activities in order to prevent the spread of infection. Infants and young children are the most vulnerable to pertussis, especially those younger than 4 months of age. Approximately 75 percent of infants who get pertussis contract the disease from a family member.
The Department of Health provides free immunizations at public health clinics in every county for children whose parents are not insured. To find a Public Health Office in your area go online to www.nmhealth.org or look in the blue pages of your local phone book.
New Mexico | DOH releases results of survey of NM clinicians’ knowledge of Valley Fever diagnosis and treatment
Santa Fe NM | The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) has released new survey results about how familiar New Mexico clinicians are with the diagnosis and treatment of Coccidiodomycosis, also known as Valley Fever. Valley Fever is a disease that is contracted through the inhalation of the fungal spores that are found in the desert and semi-arid soils in parts of the southwestern United States.
In 2009, more than 10,000 cases were reported in Arizona and 2,400 cases were reported in Southern California while New Mexico reports less than 60 cases per year. In order to assess the burden of disease in New Mexico, DOH first created an online survey to assess New Mexican physicians’, physician assistants’, and nurse practitioners’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding Valley Fever. DOH also has embarked on an educational campaign with clinical providers to remind them to think of Valley Fever when they are assessing their patients and to test for the disease.
Valley Fever is most common in its pulmonary form and its symptoms are similar to those of influenza. However in severe cases, pneumonia can develop and at times the fungus can invade other parts of the body and cause chronic problems.
“We know Valley Fever disease does not stop at our border with Arizona. Determining the true level of Valley Fever infections in New Mexico will help us better protect the public’s health and will assist clinicians in the management of their ill patients,” said DOH Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Catherine Torres.
According to the survey results: While over half of respondents (57 percent) agree that Valley Fever is a problem in New Mexico just 28 percent of survey respondents felt comfortable in their ability to diagnose, and only 30 percent felt comfortable in their ability to actually treat the disease.
Of responding clinicians, 69 percent do not consider Valley Fever as a possible diagnosis when they have a patient presenting with respiratory disease and 91 percent reported not having cared for any patients with Valley Fever in the last 12 months.
“Valley Fever is an important infectious disease which can lead to chronic illness. Misdiagnosis and delays in diagnosis can lead to poor outcomes in patients and unnecessary medical costs,” said Dr. Chad Smelser, a medical epidemiologist for DOH.
DOH is launching education and awareness campaign to improve diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The Department is partnering with the University of Arizona’s Valley Fever Center of Excellence and the Arizona Department of Health Services to educate clinicians throughout New Mexico about Valley Fever and its diagnosis and treatment. The initiative also involves a public awareness campaign that includes educational seminars, billboards and the production of a documentary on the disease and its consequences.
To read the full report including the survey results, go online to: http://www.nmborderhealth.org/documents/CocciReport_2011_v2_FINAL_110811.pdf
NM | DoH reports first case of influenza
McKinley County NM–The New Mexico Department of Health announced today the first laboratory-confirmed case of influenza in New Mexico. Influenza, commonly called the flu, was identified at the state’s Scientific Laboratory Division in a young child from McKinley County.
The Department of Health is recommending that everyone older than six months get their flu vaccine to help prevent getting the flu. To further protect against the flu, everyone should wash their hands frequently, cover their mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing, and stay home when ill.
“Since the influenza season usually peaks between December and February in New Mexico, it is not too late to get vaccinated against the flu. I am advising all New Mexicans to get a flu shot to help prevent the spread of the disease,” said Department of Health Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Catherine Torres.
While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it’s especially important that people in the following groups get vaccinated, either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications:
• Pregnant women
• Children younger than five, but especially children younger than two years old
• People age 65 and older
• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, and lung or heart disease
• People who live in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities
• People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including health care workers and caregivers for babies younger than 6 months
• American Indians and Alaskan Natives, who last flu season seemed to be at higher risk of flu complications
• People who are morbidly obese
New Mexicans should contact their health care providers to receive flu vaccine. The Department of Health’s public health offices provide vaccines to people who are at high risk for serious illness or death and to people who have no health insurance. Public health offices are listed in the phonebook’s blue pages under state government. Contact information for public health offices is listed at www.nmhealth.org.
Many of the people at high risk for flu complications should also get a pneumonia shot if they have never had one. People who need to have the pneumococcal vaccine are: age 65 and older, and adults 19 and older who smoke or have chronic health conditions, such as: asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular or lung disease, cirrhosis, chronic renal failure or who are immunocompromised due to lymphoma, organ transplant, multiple myeloma or Hodgkin’s disease.
The Department of Health does not track every case of flu in New Mexico; they do track influenza-like illness at several locations around the state to estimate the amount of flu activity. Weekly flu reports can be found online at www.health.state.nm.us/flu/.
As the flu season progresses, you can find information about the flu and flu clinics by calling toll-free at 866-681-5872 or by visiting the Department of Health’s website at http://www.immunizenm.org/flu.shtml. More clinics will be scheduled later in the season.
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